Summer Guide Roundup: Free Things for Kids

When the kids are out of school, summertime field trips are the best way to break up the monotony of playground days. But with about three months to plan for, excursions can add up (in time and in your bank account). We tracked down ways to trek around town without breaking your family budget.

MY Denver Card: Denver kids ages five to 18 have year-round access to the 23 recreation centers and 29 pools in the city. If your child already has a Denver Public Library card, that card also becomes the MY Denver Card.

Lookout Mountain Nature Center Programs: Camps are expensive—and some of your little ones may not be ready to spend the night away from home. The Lookout Mountain Nature Center offers dozens of free classes for kids of all ages. Options include Preschool Nature Nuts and Junior Naturalists, a nature journaling club that guides kids in drawing outdoors.

Douglas Country Libraries Adventure Pass:If you live in Douglas County, reserve free passes to the Butterfly Pavilion, Dinosaur Ridge, the History Colorado Center, and the Plain Conservation Center. There are a finite number of passes available for each day, but you can reserve up to 30 days in advance. All you need is a Douglas County library card.

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Johnson & Wales students, all baking and pastry arts majors, competed in the Gingerbread Takeover from December 6–8. Final judging took place on Thursday in the lobby of the Sheraton Downtown Denver hotel. All photos by Sarah Boyum

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The American Society of Interior Designers' (ASID) Colorado Chapter decorated the Governor's Residence for the holidays. Holiday tours, free and open to the public, will take place December 8-11 and December 15-18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All photos by Sarah Boyum